This week’s Pimp It Friday is all about Steam Crow Press, and the creative mad genius folks behind it- Daniel Davis and Dawna Davis.

Steam Crow is a Phoenix, Arizona company that creates quirky, imaginative characters and strange stories for people with a monster imagination.

These two artists have combined monsters, steam punk, and more into some amazing products, including story books, prints, buttons, purses and more.

I first met them at the Phoenix Comicon (Cactuscon) a few years ago and really dug their character Klawberry, and became an instant fan.

Daniel has created a new web comic- “Monster Commute” and even offers it as a collected “Traffic Novel“.

I can’t say enough good things about this Arizona couple’s work- or just how nice they are.

They’ve always got something new at their ever-growing and ever-changing booth every show I see them- Phoenix, San Diego, Emerald City, and more.

Daniel was recently interviewed on the Andrew Long Show (Ep.11) and talked about the creation of Steam Crow Press, the many irons he has in the Steam Crow fires, and what’s coming up down the road for Monster Commute and other Steam Crow projects and products.

Keep and “eye” out for Klawberry and Steam Crow at a convention near you!

Remember- monsters are real…real fun!

Lin

Dave's been a busy guy again-



Brightest Day #5

Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI • Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK
GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO • Cover by DAVID FINCH &
SCOTT WILLIAMS • 1:25 variant cover by IVAN REIS

Deadman discovers the truth behind the formation of the White Lantern
and what it means to the twelve returnees and the rest of the DC
Universe. Plus, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Hawkgirl and
Firestorm discover the price for their resurrections...and why they
may be doing more harm than good to the world.

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Brightest Day #6

Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI • Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK
GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO • Cover by DAVID FINCH &
SCOTT WILLIAMS • 1:25 variant cover by IVAN REIS

Deadman discovers the truth behind the formation of the White Lantern
and what it means to the twelve returnees and the rest of the DC
Universe. Plus, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Hawkgirl and
Firestorm discover the price for their resurrections...and why they
may be doing more harm than good to the world.

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Adventure Comics #516

Written by PAUL LEVITZ • Co-Feature written by JEFF LEMIRE • Art by
KEVIN SHARPE & WAYNE FAUCHER • Co-Feature art by MAHMUD ASRAR • Cover
by SCOTT CLARK & DAVID BEATY

ADVENTURE COMICS returns to its historical numbering with this issue
just in time for Paul Levitz to retell the Legion's origins!
Everything begins on a somber note reflecting on the past with "The
Last Will and Testament of R.J. Brande"!

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Tales of Topaz
Written by Pat Frayne, cover by Dave Beaty

Part I "Topaz and the Evil Wizard"
Fairy and Elf children have been disappearing from the peaceful
Kingdom of Knownotten. Topaz, a very unusual cat with special conjure
powers, is determined to find out why. He's joined by friends who want
to help him solve the mystery. But it's up to the big cat alone to
learn how to use his untested abilities to protect the future of the
kingdom and Its inhabitants from harm.

Part II " Topaz and the Plum-Gista Stone"
Topaz and his companions must take his friend, Otis, to the Gnome
fortress to find out what has caused the Great-Horned Owl's blindness.
The big cat suspects it may be a curse! Topaz and his friends, must
track down the cure, and their search takes them to a dangerous and
peculiar land. It's here that the Spirit of Amber Tiger comes to Topaz
in a dream to warn him that his life is in danger. The big cat must
decide if his responsibility to his friend, Otis is as important as
his responsibility to his kingdom. He has to ask himself, Is the
danger really worth the risk?

http://www.talesoftopaz.com/



You can find out more about Dave and his artwork at his site www.DaveBeaty.com, the Bushi Tales site, or his Deviant Art page.

It’s Pimp It Friday again!

DEDLOCK #1

Written and Illustrated by A.E. Sparrow

Standard Comic
Black & White
Page Count: 24

Cover Price $2.50 (POD)

Lady Draca Infernia suddenly finds herself without an empire to rule. Face-to-face with the man who helped orchestrate her downfall, she uses every trick in her bag to avenge her loss. But this man isn’t all he seems to be, and before too long the pair find their lives to be linked…in more ways than one!

When the clandestine Ordo Draco Infernium is purchased by an outside investor, its offices liquidated and its arsenal of doomsday devices confiscated, Lady Draca Infernia suddenly finds herself on the streets with no marketable skills. Determined to restore her evil empire to its former levels of glory, she finds her way blocked by one man…with matrimony on his mind!

Deadlock #1 is available through IndyPlanet.com.

Or you can stop by booth T22 at the Phoenix Comicon Memorial Day weekend and meet Al face to face…

…if you DARE!

Al will also be pimping his comic THUGS! with artist partner Stephen Reid (aka “Flint Lockjaw“) at Cactuscon.

You can check out THUGS! online here.

Al’s a great guy and has great taste in head wear!

Lin

Dedlock #1 TM and © 2010 Al Sparrow/Studio Fugazi. All rights reserved.

Memphis is going to get a bit more “batty” this weekend.

Escape From The Asylum is an art show inspired by the Batman comics and features work by artists Jamond Bullock, John Bullock, Patrick  Tabor, Joseph Boyd, and Tony Brown.

Show runs from May 15-29, 2010 at Marshall Arts Gallery- 639 Marshall Ave. in Memphis, TN (just down the street from Sun Studios). Show is open to the public Mon-Fri 10am-7pm. For more info click here.

See ya at the opening reception- Saturday, May 15 from 6-10pm.

Last weekend at Cape-Con in Cape Girardeau, MO I was set up next to the “Mike and the Ninja” team.

Mike and the Ninja creator BrianRhodes (L) and well, the Ninja- or at least one of them.

There was one on Saturday (Josh) and one on Sunday (Thomas- above).

Mike and the Ninja is a webcomic where things just never go right for Mike and when he meets a ninja named Stu his life is never the same again.

What I really liked about meeting the MATN Crew was that they had a good table set up, including printed copies of the comic (some standing up, some fanned out on the table), fliers, stickers, a price list, and the name of the comic across the front of the table. But what really made them stand out was a booth ninja! The ninja would stand very still in front of the booth and when someone would walk in front of their table the ninja would spring into action and hand the potential reader a flier or sticker while striking a martial arts pose. It was a lot of fun to watch, especially when the ninja would catch someone not paying attention to their surroundings! The creator of Mike and the Ninja and “introvert at heart” Brian Rhodes decided to try something new at his hometown show this year when his cardboard stand up of  Stu the ninja was damaged earlier in a move. He enlisted a couple friends to don a mask and black ninja attire and help him promote his comic. It worked, and worked well. One of the other things I noticed was the Mike and the Ninja web address (URL) on all of their promotional items. Why is that so important some folks may ask- well, for a webcomic it’s everything. You’d be surprised at how many creators forget to promote their website.

I’ve said it before, if you’re going to set up at a show bring a friend. Most shows will let you bring an extra person to work your table, if not it’s worth paying a bit extra to have another body there. If you’re a bit shy and have a friend who isn’t bring them, give them a tee with your logo or art on it and let them be your pitch man(or pitch woman). If you have a friend who doesn’t mind dressing up as one of the characters in your book bring them. If nothing else you’ll get a bit more attention for your booth/table and have someone there to talk to and/or watch your booth if you want to do sketches,  go see some of the show, meet with editors, or go visit the restroom- very important for a weekend show!

Good luck to Brian and “Mike and the Ninja”.

Lin/neenjah